Ah, yes, in that case she'll be fine. She should definitely take the 4th year transition course if it's offered at her school. That's the year of Irish schooling not directly tied to exams. There tend to be lots of projects, field trips, extras like speech and safety and first aid courses, etc. etc. Each school is somewhat different, but it's a great year when the kids really bond and its a non-pressurized year for your daughter to make friends and settle in. My two daughters loved that fourth/transition year as did all their friends. It also gave them a year to grow - the girls enter 4th year as hormonally charged youngsters and end it as young ladies. It's the sweet 16 year.

Then comes the two year course aimed at Leaving Certificate and your daughter be in pretty much the same boat as the rest of them. She might need an exemption from irish language classes and if she's taking science courses like physics or honours level math, then she may need some extra tutoring if she's a bit weak going into these elective subjects.

But, again, she'll be no different than all the rest of the kids and should do fine.

Scott

--Previous Message-- : Thanks Scott : : Sorry for the confusion, basically was : asking if the three years in the Ireland : School system would be enough to pass the : leaving exam or should we research : additional courses to bridge the gap... : : It appears that we would be fine based on : your response. : : Thanks : : : --Previous Message-- : Hoo boy. I don't know what kind of genius : you're raising, but the standard leaving : certificate course is two years and, if your : child is testing at the higher/honours : level, that is roughly equivalent to end of : second year college in America. : : My free site at : http://www.movetoireland.com has oodles : on : this. Go to the School button and click on : the high school page. Take a look at some of : the sample exam questions, or check out : http://www.skoool.ie for more test : examples. : : However, your question is worded kind of : ambiguously. If your daughter will be here : in Ireland for three full years, two of : which will include that final two year : course leading to the Leaving Certificate, : then she should do fine. : : In other words, if she takes the course, and : she does the work, she should pass at either : foundation, pass or honours level. The vast, : huge majority of kids who attend class : manage to pass and get into university. : : But, if you're asking whether your daughter : can just leap in and take the exam and : expect to pass - no way. The exams are too : specific, there are NO multiple choice : answers, and the whole process takes weeks : with essays, math work, formulae, and a good : working knowledge of whatever subject shes : taking absolutely needed. : : Shakespeare? Then she'd better have the : particular play studied that year well : digested with at least a dozen quotes ready : to throw at the exam. She'd better be able : to write for 3 hours about this and several : of the poets studied over the course of the : two years - and plenty of quotes from them : as well. And that's just one small example. : : Scott : : --Previous Message-- : We are thinking of moving to Ireland and : will : have a child with only three years of : secondary schooling in Ireland. With this : be sufficient to obtain adequate points on : graduation testing? Are there any special : courses of interest we should focus on to : prepare for University entrance? : : : : :